“1Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” ~ Genesis 22:1-2
It is said that coming events cast their shadows. The sacrifice of Isaac on the mount of Moriah is no doubt one of the momentous events in the whole of the Old Testament. It symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of calvary.
The story typifies Abraham as God the Father, who was willing to sacrifice His only beloved Son to establish a covenant with humanity. Isaac then becomes a type of Christ, who was willing to die in submission to his father’s will.
Indeed, some Bible scholars even suggest that Isaac must have been in his early thirties at the time of the sacrifice – just as Jesus died at the age of 33.
But probably what is most intriguing about the whole narrative is the fact that the mount of Moriah, where Isaac was sacrificed, is said to be the same mount on which Solomon built the famous temple, and the same mount on which Jesus was also sacrificed.
This can be no coincidence. Indeed, God always had a plan. A plan of redemption for humanity. The Bible says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
When God eventually stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and provides a ram caught up in the thicket to be used for the sacrifice, we know that ‘ram’ is Jesus Christ, who was made a propitiation for our sins. The New Testament puts it this way: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
Beloved, the good news is that your sins have been paid for, and the provision is made. Whatever you are believing God for has already been provided for on the mount of the Lord (v14).
“And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided” ~ Genesis 22:14.
Praise God! You are sorted!
By Rev. Simon Ampofo
